Our illustration team

All our workshop and project leaders are professional illustrators with a great deal of experience and expertise in running learning projects. Meet a few of them here.

Becca Bygate rebeccabygate.wixsite.com/illustrationBecca is an illustrator who graduated from Camberwell College of arts in July 2017. Since then she has been building up her portfolio and working in a variety of environments inclusing teaching in schools and galleries. Her work is largely textile and three-dimensional based. She will be taking residency in Brent school in September 2018 as School Illustrator in residence and is Volunteer Co-ordinator at House of Illustration.

Claire Alexander clairealexander.comClaire Alexander is an award-winning author/ illustrator based in London. She has over 13 years’ experience in picture books, most recently completing a collaboration with writer Sean Taylor, illustrating The Snowbear. The Best Bit of Daddy’s Day, Monkey and the Little One and Lucy and the Bully are some of her other titles. Claire has taught her own short picture book courses for adults for over ten years in North London, and more recently at The House of Illustration.

Grace Holliday graceholliday.comGrace Holliday is a London based Illustrator / Mark-Maker and Creative Educator. Since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2015, her creative outreach work has evolved to include collaborations with many different creative institutions and organisations, particularly those of a heritage or community background. Her studio practice focuses on exploring experimental drawing and sensory craft in commercial, editorial and gallery-based industries. The collections of mixed-media patterns, textures and forms that Grace hand creates take on a range of conceptual and decorative existences, aiming to challenge both the visual impression and physical experience of contemporary communication design.

Julie Vermeille julievermeille.netJulie studied Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts and graduated in 2004. She has been working as a freelance illustrator and art educator since leaving university. She is passionate about books and book art and has been practising bookbinding for the last four years.

Mark Longmarklongillustration.co.ukpencilandhelp.co.ukMark Long is an illustrator working in the editorial field, who illustrated his first children's book in 2012. Since 2008 he has made artwork for a number of clients including Walker Books, Google, and the Financial Times, and currently illustrates regularly for the Independent. Prior to becoming a full-time illustrator, Mark worked as a secondary school art teacher for several years. He has worked with House of Illustration since 2010.

Mark Oliverdancingeye.co.uk/markoliverpencilandhelp.co.ukMark studied philosophy and worked in schools, gardens and up trees before going to art school. After getting his MA from Camberwell College of Arts, he has worked as an illustrator for clients including Esquire, Glamour, Harper Collins and Times Online. In addition to this, he has developed an education and collaborative illustration practice called Pencil & Help, through which he has worked for House of Illustration, V&A, Discover Story Centre, Museum of London, Somerset House, and various schools and universities.

Merlin Evansdrawntomedicine.comMerlin is an illustrator, comic artist and educator. She is glued to the study of human anatomy in all its forms, and is currently completing postgraduate training in Medical Art through the MAET. She is passionate about recording the world in all its detail, specialising in hand drawn pen and ink illustrations. She was selected to study on londonprintstudio's 'Best of Young British Comic Talent’ scholarship, and her work was picked by Shaun Tan to showcase the best of ‘Emerging Talent’ at the International Cheltenham Illustration Awards. She has worked with the House of Illustration since 2010, and is passionate about using illustration to relax, amuse and inspire students of all ages.

Neysela da Silva-Reed – Gallery Educator and Paper Artist neyseladasilvareed.comNey is a gallery and museum educator who has worked in institutions internationally in both London and New York. She specialises in engaging families in gallery collections and runs House of Illustration’s workshops for 2-5 year olds. As a paper artist and illustrator, Ney creates hand-drawn paper objects inspired by the collections she works for and uses paper art techniques within her teaching practice to create unique and engaging sessions.

Sion Ap Tomossionaptomos.tumblr.comSion Ap Tomos is an illustrator, artist and educator. A graduate of Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art, he divides his time between illustration commissions, teaching drawing and illustration to adults and children, delivering a variety of creative workshops for museums and galleries, and creating paintings that focus on the varying landscapes of London. He has worked with House of Illustration since 2010, working on a number of primary school projects and family workshops, enjoying spreading the word about illustration and exploring how it can be integrated into the learning curriculum.

Toya Walkertoyawalker.co.ukToya Walker is a Jerwood Prize-shortlisted artist and illustrator who graduated in painting from Edinburgh College of Art. Her illustrations reflect her joy in the tactile process of making. Primarily producing storyboards and concept art for the advertising industry, she also makes work for science and education projects. Clients include Atlantic Records, UCL, MAN + HATCHET and Channel 4. Toya balances her illustration work with involvement in art education and has been working with House of Illustration since 2009.